Indianapolis Colts Football

The NCAA Tournament has been trimmed down to the Sweet 16 and for nearly all the 75 players currently on the Colts roster, fandom will have to turn elsewhere than the colleges they attended.

For wide receiver Reggie Wayne (Miami), nose tackle Brandon McKinney (Michigan State) and running back Delone Carter (Syracuse) hope is still there to watch their respective schools cut down the nets in Atlanta a week from Monday.

For others like Erik Walden (Middle Tennessee State) the dream died in the play-in game.

A trio of Ole Miss Rebels (cornerbacks Marsahy Green/Cassius Vaughn and offensive tackle Bradley Sowell) saw their school go from a No. 13 seed to a shot away from making the Sweet Sixteen.

If Ryan Grigson’s future draft classes can come close to mirroring the same amount of success his first one in Indianapolis accomplished than the Colts will be a force for the years to come.

The rookie class amassed an NFL record 3,108 yards this season thanks to a handful of skill position players.

Defensively, fifth round pick Josh Chapman is still waiting in the wings after the defensive tackle missed the entire season rehabbing a knee injury.

Grigson beams when talking about his rookie class but he also adds a few names to that group.

What about Bradley Sowell?

The Colts plucked the undrafted free agent off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad on Sept. 11 and Sowell played in 10 games this season.

“Bradley Sowell is a guy, I think he has true left tackle ability,” Grigson said. “It will make himself more valuable if he settles in at right so he can play both.”

Sowell saw his most playing time in the AFC Wild Card loss to the Ravens when he was thrust into action after right tackle Winston Justice went down with an injury in the first quarter.

“Brad is going to be a much better player because of that experience. He fought his tail off.” The Colts GM said

What about Lawrence Guy?

With the defensive line ravaged with injuries, Guy was signed off the Green Bay Packers practice squad on Oct. 17 and played nine games, including starting the final three contests of the year.

Grigson also points to Nathan Palmer, who was signed off the San Francisco 49ers after going undrafted, as a receiver that the General Manger calls ‘about as explosive a receiver we have.’

The headliners from this rookie class will still be Luck, Hilton Ballard, Allen etc. but it’s the guys on the backend of the roster that Grigson points to in completing a group that will play a leading role in the future of the Colts.

“Getting those guys is exciting because those are guys that we looked at in the draft and we were able to get without burning a pick,” Grigson said.

“It may be a warped view but I feel like those guys we poached from other teams practice squads early this season, those guys to me feel like draft picks. The nice thing about that is it’s only going to serve us well in the future because what we’ve been through this year as a team and as human beings.”

With a plethora of rookie players on the Colts roster, each week Colts.com will take a look at how the first-year players performed.

Dwayne Allen, TE: Allen had four catches for 51 yards against the Ravens. The rookie tight end had two catches for 35 yards on the Colts initial scoring drive.

Vick Ballard, RB: Ballard had 22 carries for 91 yards on Sunday. The 91 rushing yards for Ballard were the most in the postseason by a Colt since Dominic Rhodes (113) in Super Bowl XLI.

LaVon Brazill, RB: Brazill had one catch for 17 yards against Baltimore. The 17-yard reception came on a third down midway through the third quarter and extended a drive that led to the Colts final field goal on the afternoon.

Coby Fleener, TE: Fleener had three catches for 25 yards on Sunday and his seven-yard reception midway through the second quarter helped set up Adam Vinatieri’s first field goal.

T.Y. Hilton, WR: Hilton’s was second on the team with eight catches for 66 yards. Hilton’s 25-yard reception late in the second half set up a 52-yard field goal by Vinatieri at the halftime gun.

Andrew Luck, QB: Luck was 28-of-54 for 288 yards on Sunday and added 35 rushing yards on four carries. Luck’s 54 pass attempts were the most in postseason club history. Luck became the first signal caller to be chosen No. 1 overall and start a playoff game in the same season. Luck’s 288 passing yards were the second most for a rookie in postseason NFL history.

Bradley Sowell: OT: Sowell filled in at right tackle for the Colts on Sunday, playing the majority of three quarters.

With a plethora of rookie players on the Colts roster, each week Colts.com will take a look at how the first-year players performed.

Dwayne Allen, TE: Allen had two catches for 21 yards on Sunday and finished the season with 45 catches for 521 yards. His 45 catches set a tight end rookie record for the Colts and Allen led all first-year tight ends in receiving.

Vick Ballard, RB: Ballard had a season-high 27 carries for 78 yards and helped grind out the final 9:46 off the clock against the Texans. For the season, Ballard had 211 carries for 814 yards as the feature back during the Colts run of winning nine of their last 11 games. Ballard finished fifth among all rookies with his 814 rushing yards this season.

LaVon Brazill, RB: Brazill played on offense and special teams on Sunday. He finished the season with 11 catches for 186 yards including a 42-yard touchdown in the comeback victory over the Lions.

Coby Fleener, TE: Fleener had one catch for one-yard and a touchdown on Sunday afternoon. The Stanford product overcame a shoulder injury to haul in 26 catches for 281 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.

T.Y. Hilton, WR: Hilton notched his fifth 100-yard receiving day on the season with four catches for 111 yards. His 70-yard touchdown was the longest play from scrimmage this season for the Colts. On the season, Hilton had 50 catches for 861 yards and seven touchdowns. Hilton finished second among all rookies in receiving yards, just four yards behind the Jaguars Justin Blackmon

Delano Howell, S: Howell played his fifth game with the Colts, seeing action on special teams with one tackle.

Andrew Luck, QB: Luck was 14-of-28 for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Texans. He has now gone 14 quarters without an interception. Luck’s 11 wins is four more than any other rookie quarterback who was drafted No. 1 overall has recorded in their first NFL season. Luck finished the regular season 339-of-627 for 4,374 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

Bradley Sowell: OT: Sowell was active and returned a short kickoff 11 yards on Sunday.

With a plethora of rookie players on the Colts roster, each week Colts.com will take a look at how the first-year players performed.

Dwayne Allen, TE: Allen had three catches for 18 yards on Sunday and brings his season total to 43 receptions and 500 yards. He ranks third on the team with three touchdowns.

Vick Ballard, RB: Ballard’s ran 20 times for 69 yards against the Chiefs. The 20 carries ties a season-high for Ballard and the rookie now has 736 rushing yards on the season.

LaVon Brazill, RB: Brazill played on offense and special teams on Sunday and finished the game with one tackle. The tackle came at the 10-yard line on the kickoff following the Colts touchdown to take a 20-13 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Coby Fleener, TE: Fleener had one catch for two yards against the Chiefs. He also recovered a fumble in the first half. On the season, Fleener has 25 catches for 280 yards.

T.Y. Hilton, WR: Hilton’s had two catches for 34 yards on Sunday. Hilton ranks third on the team with 46 catches for 750 receiving yards and continues to the lead the team with six touchdowns.

Delano Howell, S: Howell played his fourth game with the Colts, seeing action on special teams against the Chiefs.

Andrew Luck, QB: Luck was 17-of-35 for 205 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions on Sunday. His 4,183 passing yards is an NFL rookie record and he also tied a league record with his seventh fourth quarter comeback on the season. Luck also set a rookie record with 599 pass attempts in a season.

With a plethora of rookie players on the Colts roster, each week Colts.com will take a look at how the first-year players performed.

Dwayne Allen, TE: Allen had three catches for 36 yards on Sunday including his third touchdown of the season. Allen is now three catches away from the Colts rookie record for tight ends (Ken Dilger, 42).

Vick Ballard, RB: Ballard’s 105 rushing yards were a career-high, as he became the Colts first 100-yard rusher since last season. Ballard now has 164 carries for 667 rushing yards on the season.

LaVon Brazill, RB: Brazill played on offense and special teams on Sunday but did not record a catch.

Coby Fleener, TE: Fleener had one catch for 21 yards on Sunday and now has 24 receptions on the season.

T.Y. Hilton, WR: Hilton’s 61-yard touchdown in the second quarter was the longest play from scrimmage this season for the Colts. In all, Hilton had three catches for 78 yards and his six touchdowns are two short of the Colts rookie record.

Delano Howell, S: Howell played his third game with the Colts, seeing action on special teams against the Titans.

Andrew Luck, QB: Luck was 13-of-27 for 186 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday afternoon. Luck has now thrown for 20 touchdowns in his rookie campaign and his 3,987 passing yards are 74 shy of the NFL rookie record.

Bradley Sowell: OT: Sowell played on special teams on Sunday in the field goal unit.

With a plethora of rookie players on the Colts roster, each week Colts.com will take a look at how the first-year players performed.

Dwayne Allen, TE: Allen had just one catch for 11 yards on the afternoon. However, the timeliness of Allen’s one grab was significant. With the Colts facing a second-and-10 with 2:25 remaining, Allen hauled in an 11-yard catch, allowing the Colts to take three kneels to complete the win.

Vick Ballard, RB: Ballard had 19 carries for a season-high 94 yards on Sunday but the numbers don’t do him justice for his durability shown in the second-half. Ballard was the Colts lone running back for the entire fourth quarter and fought through a stinger to finish off the 27-23 victory.

LaVon Brazill, RB: Brazill had just one catch for eight yards against the Titans but it came in the fourth quarter and helped set up Adam Vinatieri’s 53-yard field goal with 6:23 remaining.

Coby Fleener, TE: Fleener had one catch for nine yards on Sunday and was apart of a three-tight end set that helped the Colts cap off the victory.

T.Y. Hilton, WR: Hilton had two catches for 50 yards on Sunday including a 36-yarder that showed off his top-end speed after the catch and set up the Colts first touchdown. Hilton now has 41 catches for 638 yards on the season.

Delano Howell, S: Howell played his second game with the Colts, seeing action on special teams against the Titans.

Andrew Luck, QB: Luck was 16-of-34 for 196 yards for one touchdown and two interceptions on Sunday afternoon. Luck engineered his sixth fourth quarter/overtime comeback for the Colts, which ties an NFL record for rookie quarterbacks. He also passed Peyton Manning for the second most passing yards (3,792) for a rookie quarterback in NFL history.

With a plethora of rookie players on the Colts roster, each week Colts.com will take a look at how the first-year players performed.

Dwayne Allen, TE: Allen had just two catches on Sunday but they came at critical times. His 40-yard screen pass early in the second quarter came with the Colts down 17-7 and led to Coby Fleener’s touchdown. Allen’s second catch, a 10-yarder, came on the game-winning touchdown drive.

Vick Ballard, RB: Ballard had nine carries for 41 yards on Sunday to go along with three receptions for 21 yards. Ballard’s 11-yard touchdown run to begin the second half scoring was his first career NFL rushing touchdown.

LaVon Brazill, RB: Brazill scored his first career NFL touchdown on Sunday as he slipped past the defense for a 42-yard score late in the fourth quarter. Brazill leads the Colts with 17.8 yards per catch.

Coby Fleener, TE: Fleener was back in the lineup after a shoulder injury that kept him out since Oct. 28. Just like Brazill, Fleener had only one catch but it was immense. Fleener hauled in a 26-yard touchdown in the second quarter for his first NFL score.

T.Y. Hilton, WR: Hilton recorded yet another 100-yard receiving day (on six catches). Hilton now has four games of at least 100 receiving yards on the season and his 588 receiving yards ranks third on the team. Hilton’s 60-yard first quarter grab was the longest reception of the season for the Colts.

Andrew Luck, QB: Luck was 24-of-54 for 391 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions on Sunday afternoon. It was an eventful afternoon for Luck who led a 75- and 80-yard touchdown drive in the final five minutes.

Delano Howell, S: Howell was signed on Tuesday and saw his first action in a Colts uniform, playing on special teams on Sunday.

With a plethora of rookie players on the Colts roster, each week Colts.com will take a look at how the first-year players performed.

Dwayne Allen, TE: Allen was second on the team with three catches for 36 yards on Sunday. Allen continues to lead all rookie tight ends in the NFL with 34 catches for 385 yards.

Vick Ballard, RB: Ballard had 13 carries for 41 yards on Sunday and leads the team with 118 carries for 427 yards on the season.

LaVon Brazill, RB: Brazill had one catch for 11 yards on Sunday and was called on for punt coverage duty in the fourth quarter as well. On the season, Brazill leads the team with averaging 15.1 yards per catch.

T.Y. Hilton, WR: Hilton was the star on Sunday ending a five-year punt return drought for the Colts with a 75-yarder for a touchdown early in the first quarter. Hilton added three catches for 33 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.

Andrew Luck, QB: Luck was 20-of-37 for 240 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Bills. With the win, Luck tied Rams quarterback Sam Bradford for the most wins (seven) by a quarterback selected No. 1 overall since 1970.

Nate Palmer, WR: Palmer was active but did not play on Sunday.

Bradley Sowell, OT: Sowell was used as a tackle eligible on several occasions on Sunday.

Rookie defensive tackle Josh Chapman, tight end Coby Fleener and tight end Dominique Jones were inactive against the Bills.

With a plethora of rookie players on the Colts roster, each week Colts.com will take a look at how the first-year players performed.

Dwayne Allen, TE: Allen had one of his finest games of his young career with six catches for 69 yards against the Patriots. On the season, Allen is third on the team with 31 catches and has 349 receiving yards.

Vick Ballard, RB: Ballard continues to find himself in the starting lineup and had 16 carries for 72 yards on Sunday. The 72 yards was the second highest output for Ballard this season.

LaVon Brazill, RB: Brazill filled in for an injured Donnie Avery and had two catches for 46 yards. Brazill’s 25-yard sideline catch in the first half was his season long.

T.Y. Hilton, WR: Hilton continued his productive rookie season with his third 100-yard receiving game on the year. Hilton had touchdown grabs of 43 and 14 yards and became the first Colts player with a multiple touchdown game this season. On the day, Hilton had six catches for 100 yards.

Andrew Luck, QB: Luck was 27-of-50 for 334 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions against the Patriots. Luck became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to record five 300-yard passing games in his first season.

Nate Palmer, WR: Palmer played on special teams on Sunday and also found himself in the receiver rotation when Avery left the game with a concussion.

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at com.interwoven.livesite.file.impl.CsFileDal.read(CsFileDal.java:139)
at com.interwoven.livesite.model.property.DCRProperty.fetchDCRXML(DCRProperty.java:328)
at com.interwoven.livesite.runtime.model.page.RuntimeComponent.buildComponentTransformData(RuntimeComponent.java:247)
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at com.interwoven.livesite.runtime.page.PageTokenVariableComponent.preRender(PageTokenVariableComponent.java:103)
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at com.interwoven.livesite.runtime.model.page.RuntimePage.transform(RuntimePage.java:372)
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at com.interwoven.livesite.model.page.PreRenderedPage.transform(PreRenderedPage.java:145)
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at com.interwoven.livesite.workflow.web.task.PageConversionWebTask.convertPages(PageConversionWebTask.java:176)
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at com.interwoven.livesite.workflow.web.action.CSWebTaskAction.execute(CSWebTaskAction.java:110)
at org.springframework.web.struts.DelegatingActionProxy.execute(DelegatingActionProxy.java:110)
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at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:206)
at com.interwoven.livesite.spring.hibernate.web.filter.OpenSessionsInViewFilter.doFilterInternal(OpenSessionsInViewFilter.java:108)
at org.springframework.web.filter.OncePerRequestFilter.doFilter(OncePerRequestFilter.java:75)
at org.springframework.web.filter.DelegatingFilterProxy.invokeDelegate(DelegatingFilterProxy.java:183)
at org.springframework.web.filter.DelegatingFilterProxy.doFilter(DelegatingFilterProxy.java:138)
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at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:206)
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at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:206)
at com.interwoven.ui.base.util.SetRequestEncodingFilter.doFilter(SetRequestEncodingFilter.java:106)
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at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:206)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve.invoke(StandardWrapperValve.java:233)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:191)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:128)
at org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorReportValve.invoke(ErrorReportValve.java:102)
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at org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:286)
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